ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy has ordered two more Mark VI patrol boats for the government of Ukraine, the Defense Department said.
The Naval Sea Systems Command awarded SAFE Boats International of Bremerton, Washington, a $25.6 million firm-fixed-price modification “for the exercise of options for construction, outfitting, reactivation, and training of two Mark VI patrol boats,” the Dec. 30 announcement said.
The order is funded with some of the $125 million Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds through the fiscal year 2021 Building Partner Capacity initiative.
In June 2020, the U.S. State Department has approved the possible foreign military sale of up to 16 Mark VI patrol boats and related equipment to Ukraine for an estimated cost of $600 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said. The December order brings the total ordered to date to 12 boats.
“This action reaffirms the U.S. commitment to providing defensive lethal weapons to enable Ukraine to more effectively defend itself against Russian aggression,” the Defense Department said of an earlier sale of Mark VI boats to Ukraine.
The patrol boats will be operated by the Ukrainian navy to defend territorial waters and other maritime interests. They each will be armed with two MSI Seahawk A2 gun systems and two Mk44 cannons and equipped with electro-optical/infrared sensors and loud-speaker systems.
Mark VI patrol boats are used by the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command for escort of high-value ships, coastal patrol, and other maritime security missions.
The boats will be built in Tacoma, Washington, and deliveries are expected to be completed by March 2026.
